Yerevan City Council Member Samvel Hakobyan Resigns, Criticizing City Governance
Yerevan, March 4 – Samvel Hakobyan, a member of the Yerevan City Council, announced his resignation yesterday, March 3, 2026, stating his decision to step down from his mandate. In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Hakobyan, a political scientist and young political figure, expressed his disappointment with the current city administration and vowed to continue his fight for a ‘dignified, safe, and Christian Armenia.’
Hakobyan described his tenure on the city council as a ‘serious school’ for his future political activities. He stated, ‘I had the opportunity to get to know the problems and challenges of urban governance from within, to directly communicate with citizens, and to try to find solutions to their pressing issues.’ He added, ‘I hope I made my modest contribution to exposing the incompetent and illegal nature of the city government led by Tigran Avinyan. I believe I no longer have anything to say in the City Hall led by Tigran Avinyan.’
Emphasizing that ‘politics is not a position, but a responsibility,’ Hakobyan affirmed his commitment to continuing his struggle. He highlighted the urgent need to ‘get rid of the ruling power that is leading our homeland to collapse’ in order to achieve a ‘dignified, safe, and Christian Armenia.’
Hakobyan extended special gratitude to the ‘Mother Armenia’ faction and Andranik Tevanyan for their ‘joint work, political literacy, and consistent and responsible approach to the problems of Yerevan residents.’ He concluded his statement by thanking the residents of Yerevan for their trust and promised, ‘We will meet in the streets of Yerevan.’
Context of the Resignation
Hakobyan’s resignation comes amidst a period of political tension and public dissatisfaction with various aspects of city governance in Yerevan. Recent news reports from 7or.am, published on the same day as Hakobyan’s resignation announcement, highlight several issues:
- Road Maintenance: A video report from March 3, 2026, criticized the ‘pothole filling’ work in the Shengavit administrative district, describing it as being carried out in a ‘peculiar’ and ‘designer’ manner.
- City Management Criticism: Another video report from March 3, 2026, titled ‘The city held by the boastful authorities,’ suggests broader discontent with the current administration.
- Financial Irregularities: A report from March 3, 2026, mentions a significant amount of money (79 foreign business trips costing 49.3 million drams) spent by the City Hall, raising questions about financial management.
These reports, along with Hakobyan’s strong criticism, paint a picture of a challenging environment for the current Yerevan city administration.
Broader Political and Social Landscape
The political landscape in Armenia, and specifically in Yerevan, appears to be dynamic. The reference to ‘incompetent and illegal nature’ and the call to ‘get rid of the ruling power’ suggest a broader political struggle. Hakobyan’s alignment with the ‘Mother Armenia’ faction further indicates a defined opposition stance.
The emphasis on a ‘dignified, safe, and Christian Armenia’ also points to a platform that likely resonates with a segment of the population concerned with national identity, security, and traditional values.
The statement’s closing, ‘We will meet in the streets of Yerevan,’ implies a continued engagement in public life and potentially further protests or political actions, aligning with the broader trend of public demonstrations and political discourse observed in the region.
Hakobyan’s resignation is a notable development in Yerevan’s political scene, potentially signaling increased scrutiny and opposition to the current city leadership.
